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Go Behind the Podcast With Pocket + Texas Monthly

Go deeper on every episode of America's Girls with exclusive details and links straight from host Sarah Hepola.

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Pocket has teamed up with Texas Monthly to bring you weekly deep dives on every episode of America’s Girls, Texas Monthly’s fascinating podcast about how the Dallas Cowboy Cheerleaders became international icons. From the scandals over the squad’s uniforms and their bizarre rule book, to a look at how their fame has influenced pro sports teams over the past 50 years, get a peek behind the scenes each week with curated reading lists.

Episode 8: What’s Next for Professional Cheerleading?

Despite being a reliable profit center for their teams, cheer squads are still fighting for the respect and opportunities that players command.

Episode 7: The Cost (and Profits) of Objectification

Sex appeal has long been part of professional cheerleaders' brand. How much does it distract from everything else they bring to the field?

Episode 6: How Diet Culture Shapes Cheerleader Culture

Tracking how underpaid and over-scrutinized cheerleaders have been subjected to public shaming and extreme diets—all in the name of “the perfect look.”

Episode 5: Controlling the Cheer: Inside the Rules Governing 80’s-Era Cheer Squads

Digging into the complex and curious rules imposed on the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders—and how they, and the women around them, pushed back.

Episode 4: The Mystery Behind Cheerleading’s Most Recognizable Uniform

From launching countless knock-offs to landing in the Smithsonian, the Dallas Cowboys cheer squad’s outfit has earned its iconic status. But who gets the credit?

Episode 3: Voyeurism vs. Moralism: How Cheerleaders Toe the Line

Cheer squads are expected to project a flirtatious image. But what happens when they try to capitalize on it?

Episode 2: Behind the High Profiles and Low Wages of the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders

“Money just had nothing to do with it. It was an honor to be a part of it,” said legendary squad director Suzanne Mitchell. Here, Texas Monthly’s Sarah Hepola digs in to see how that fared for the cheerleaders.

Episode 1: How the Dallas Cowboy Cheerleaders Became Iconic

Exploring how the Dallas Cowboys cheer squad became an unlikely global phenomenon that managed to straddle the line between provocative and wholesome.